chance
//t͡ʃɑːns/ [t͡ʃʰɑːns]/
Forms
- Plural
- chances
- present (v1)
- chance
- past (v2)
- chanced
- past participle (v3)
- chanced
- present participle
- chancing
- 3rd person singular
- chances
Definitions
1.An opportunity or possibility.
- There was a fat/slim chance that my letter would arrive in time.
- If you get the chance, try and catch the new production of "Hamlet."
- We had the chance to meet the president last week: we have a good/strong chance of making / to make a profit.
2.Random occurrence; luck.
- My whole life seems to be ruled by blind chance.
- Why leave it to chance when a few simple steps will secure the desired outcome?
3.The probability of something happening.
- There is a 30 percent chance of rain tomorrow.
- There is little chance of having the chance to approach such a big celeb.
4.probability; possibility.
- Please give me another chance.
- I wasn't given a chance.
1.To try or risk.
- Shall we carry the umbrella, or chance a rainstorm?
- He does chance it in stocks, but he's always played on the square, if you call stocks gambling.
2.To rob, cheat or swindle someone.
- The car broke down a week after I bought it. I was chanced by that fast-talking salesman.
- Be prepared to engage in protests of all businesses nationwide who are violating the copyright act and chancing our members.
3.To discover something by chance.
- He chanced upon a kindly stranger who showed him the way.
- I chanced on this letter.
1.Happening by chance, casual.
- Heaven knows what pains the author has been at, what bitter experiences he has endured and what heartache suffered, to give some chance reader a few hours' relaxation or to while away the tedium of a journey.
- No crowd was about the door; no people were discernible at any of the many windows; not even a chance passer-by was in the street. An unnatural silence and desertion reigned there.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #557
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English chance, cheance, chaunce, cheaunce, a borrowing from Old French cheance (“accident, chance, luck”), from Vulgar Latin *cadentia (“falling”), from Latin cadere (“to fall, to die, to happen, occur”).
Doublet of cadence and cadenza.